Safety razor



Dec. 26, 1933. E B. HOFF 1,941,208

SAFETY RAZOR Filed June 13, 1950 Ewen-lie CSM %/7/%. M`MM/M Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety razor and particularly to a. safety razor of the double edge b lade type. f f

, An objectA of the invention is to provide a safety razor wherein the outer yand inner guard members may be substantially separated so as to allow the blade to be moved back for insertion in a stropping vdevice without removing the blade from the razor.

An additional object is to provide a safety razor wherein the outer andinner guard members may be substantially separated without increasing the length of the razor.

A further object is to provide a safety razor wherein the razor blade may be changed by unscrewing one part only 0f the razor.

A'still' further object is to provide a safety razor wherein the blade tension is adjustable'and means arranged on the razor for indicating the 2O different `adjustments ofthe blade.

vA further object is to provide a safety razor which is so constructed that when the guards are separated to allow the razor blade to be 111-. serted in a stropping device theblade will be held .25 against rotation.

Another object isto provide a safety razor whichis so constructed that the razor maylbe easily cleaned and in addition is formed of a" A Figure 1 is a View of one form yof razorftheV same .being shown partly in side elevation and: partly in section; i

Fig. '2 shows in side elevation the. parts of the razor disclosedl in Fig; 1, the said parts vbeing 'L40 separated and arranged imposition for assembling; y

Fig.. 3 is a View taken substantially 'on line 34-13 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 41s a longitudinal sectional -viewv Vof the razor shown in Fig. 1, but taken'i" fromthe position oA the razor in Fig'. 1; e Y l Fig.'5 yis a View to Fig. 4, but showing :a modified form of razoryuv f l j 50 Fig. 6 shows inplanva razor blade suitable for use with the razl Shown in Fig". 1;

' Fig. 7 is a plan'yiew ofthe razor for use with .the razor shown in Fig. 5;

Y Fig. 8 is fa detail viewy partly section and L partly .elevation of amoded form of inner guard member, the sectionfbeing taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 9; .j

Fig. Fig,i 8 looking in the direction of the arrows ;.Y and 69 Y- Figyli) is aperspective View ofthe razorwith madel suitable j 9 is a Asectional View .taken onV line. 9-9 of the inner 'guard rmoved rearward and the blade positioned ready for 'insertion in the 'stroppen The razor shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive includes an outer guard member lilwhich is curvedV transverpely of lits longitudinal length'so as', to 'Y have its inner side concave. As is usual in razors of this type theinner` side ofthe outer guard member 10 is provided with a pair o-f spaced in` wardly extending projections 11 arrangedon the longitudinaly center line ofthe member 10 and on the opposite sides of the middle point of such line. The member 10k is further provided with a rearwardly extending shaft 12 projecting from'I the inner side ofthe member at the middle point' thereof and provided'for a portionof its length with outwardly extendingdiametrically opposed splines or ribs 13. The rear end of the shaft 12 beyond the splines or ribs 13 is threaded as indi-v cated `at, 14. v

The inner guard member 15 is curved trans- Versely' of its longitudinal length in the same manner asY the V outer guard memberflO `so that the two'members may be broughtutogether in complementary 'relationship to clampfa' lrazor blade therebetween. The innerguard member 15 isr substantially of the samersize asthe outer guard membervli) with the Iexception thatfthe guard teeth `16 provided on each longitudinal edge offthe member 15 extend outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of the guard member 10'."

yThe inner guard member 15 is `provided with a Y pairof openings 17 so arranged that whenthe two guard members are in cooperating clamping PATENr OFFICE position vthe projections 11 on the outer guard i member Awill extendthrough the openings 1'7 of vthe inner guard member. The inner guard meml ber 15 is furtherzzprovided at the middlev thereof with an opening 18 Ofgenerally circular configuration except lthat it ispprovided with diametricallyopposed slots 19, whereby the opening 18 and the slots 19'are of the same configuration as the shaft 12 andthe ribs or splines V13 for the purpose of allowing the innerguard member 1'5 to be positioned upon the shaft 12 and held againstrotation thereon.V

Atuber20 is integral with and'extends rearv wardly from the concave side of the guard` member 15, this tube being concentrically arranged with respectto theopening 18 and of "a diameter substantially equal* to the combined length ofthe grooves 19 and the diameterof theopening 18, sc that thejsha'ft 12 andsplines Vor ribs 13 may have sliding movement in the tube.v 5

The length of the tube 20Jis'such` that it does not extend beyond the end vof the shaft 12 when theouter andinner guard' members are in clamp- `ing position, infact, the rear end of the tube terminates a substantial distance inwardlyof the end of the shaft 12 when the parts are in the position mentioned.

The handle .of the razor, indicated at 21, is preferably cylindrical in shape and of such diameter that the tube 2() may slide or telescope freely thereon. The handle 21 is provided with a knurled knob or head 22 at one end and with an exteriorly threaded portion 23 at its opposite end, while extending inwardly of the handle from this last mentioned end is a recess or bore 24 threaded for a portion of its length as indicated at 25. A-knurled nut 26 is arranged on the handle 21 and is adapted to co-operate with the threaded portion 23 thereof for a purpose later to. be explained and made apparent.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing a razor blade 27 of the double edge type is shown, such blade being particularly adapted for use with the razor shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, although it should be understood that other forms of blades could be used therein. The blade 27 is provided with openings 28 through which the projections l1 on the outer guard member 10 may extend, while the center of the blade 27 is provided with an opening 29 having a pair of diametrically opposed grooves 30 to enable the blade to be positioned over the shaft 12 with the splines 13 of the shaft engaging in the grooves 30 of the blade to hold the blade against rotation on the shaft. Although a pair of grooves 30 are disclosed in the razor blade it is perfectly apparent that three or more of such grooves might be provided therein (see Fig. 7) or the grooves 30 might be extended to communicate with the openings 23 of the blade.

The operation of the razor disclosed in Figs. l to 4 inclusive is as follows: Y

The inner guard 15 is separated from the outer guard, .asshown in Fig. 2, and the blade 27 is then positioned on the shaft 12 with the shaft l2 extending through the opening 29 of the blade and the splines or ribs 13 of the shaft extending through the grooves 30 adjacent the openings 29 in the blade. The blade may then be moved toward the outer guard member 10 until the projections 11 extend through the openings 28 in the blade.

The shaft 12 is then passed through the opening 18 in the inner guard member and as the inner guard member is moved toward the outer guard member the splines 13 will pass through the grooves 19 of the member 15 thus permitting the inner guard member to move toward the outer guard member to clamp the blade 27 therebetween, in which position the shaft 12 and splines 13 will be within the tube 20, the threaded end 14 of the shaft extending rearwardly a substantial distance beyond the end of the tube.

The handle 21 may then be screwed down upon the threaded end 14 of the shaft, after which the knurled nut 26 on the handle 21 can be screwed down upon the threaded portion 23 of the handle so as to press against the rear end ofV the tube 20 and thereby move the inner guard member 15 into clamping position with the outer guard member 10.

Itwill be seen that the nut 26 may be adjusted to vary the tension imposed upon the blade 27 by the inner guard member 15, graduations 3l being arranged on the tube 20 adjacent its rear end to oo -operate with a mark 32Von thev nut 26 to indicate the adjustment of the blade tension.

It will further be seen that when the nut 26 is unscrewed from the threaded portion 23 and moved back on the handle 21, the inner guard member l5 and the tube 20 may be slid rear-- wardly over the handle to thus substantially separate the guard members and expose the blade, so that it can be inserted in astropping device, it being noted that the blade does not have to be removed from the razor for this purpose and that the rearward movement of the inner guard 15 and tube 20 does not increase the length of the razor. Of course, the guard members may be separated in the same manner when it is desired to clean the razor. In Fig. 10 I have shown the position of the parts of the razor when the latter is to be inserted in the stropper. To thus position the parts, it is only necessary to unscrew the nut 26 and slide it back onto thevunthreaded portion of the handle 21 and then slide the inner guard member back to the position illustrated and place the blade on the shaft 12 about midwagT between'the guard members. This effects no change in the overall length of the razor. A stropper which is adapted to receive the'razor with the parts thus positioned is described and claimed in a companion application filed by me of even date herewith.

A slightly modified form of razor is disclosedY in Fig. 5, the outer guard member being indicated at 33 and of substantially the same construction as the guard member 10 in the form just above described; however, the guard member 33 is provided with a rearwardly extending shaft 34 similar to the shaft 12 of the other form of razor, but preferably of reduced diameter and of sub-- stantially greater length. The shaft 34 is provided with one or more splines or ribs 35 (four of these ribs or splines being shown in the drawing by way of illustration) While the rear end of the shaft 34 is reduced in diameter and threaded as indicated at 36.

The inner guard member 37 is substantially the' same as the inner guard member 15, it being noted however, that the rearwardly extending tube 38 is of relatively less diameter than the diameter of the tube 20 and is provided adjacent its rear end with an exteriorly threaded portion 39.

The handle 40 isrsubstantially tubular and of such size that it will telescopically receive the tube 38 when the'inner guard member 37 is moved rearwardly away from the outer guard member 33.y The rear end of the handle 40 is closed by a solid plug-like portion 41 provided on its inner side with a threaded centrally arranged recess 42 into which the threaded end 36 of the handle 34 may be screwed. A nut 43 is arranged on the tube 33 and is adapted to be screwed upon the threaded portion 330i the tube.

In assembling this form of razor the inner guard member 37 isrpositioned upon the shaft 34 in substantially the same way as the inner guard member in the other form. The handle 40 may then be positioned over the shaft 34 and the threaded end of the shaft screwed into the recess 42 in the plug-like portion 41 of the handle. After the parts have been thus assembled the nut 43 is screwed upon the threaded portion39 of the tube 38 with the result that the nut engaging the inner end of the handle forces the tube 38 and the inner guard member 37 toward the outer guard member 3,3 so as to clamp the blade therebetween. When it is desired to separate the guard members to clean the razor or to strop the blade it is merely necessary to loosen the nut 43 and then to slide the 'tube 38 rearwardly within the handle 40.

In Fig. 7 ther blade 27 is of the same general construction asV the blade 27 shown in Fig. 6, it

being noted however, that the central opening 44 is smaller than the opening 29 and is provided Vwith four grooves 45, the purpose of the reduced opening 44 and the grooves 45 being to permit the'blade to be positioned upon the shaft 34.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a modified form of inner guard member 46 is disclosed. The difference in this form of guard member over the guard members 15 and 37 previously described resides in the construction of the guard teeth, it being noted that the guard memberv46 is provided with cutout portions 4'7 extending longitudinally of the guard and inwardly of the guard teeth. Another difference existing in the guard teeth disclosed in the modified form is that the teeth are in the form of a roller made up of a plurality of disc members 48 arranged in spaced relation on a supporting rod or shaft 49. The purpose of this form of inner guard member is to facilitate the passage of the lather and bristles through the inner guard to prevent clogging of the razorwhile the series of disc members 48 form a smoother faceengaging surface than do the teeth of the inner guards 15 and 37.

though several preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of such modicationsand adaptations as'fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A safety razor comprising a handle, anouter guard member having a shaft to theA end of which said handle is connected and upon which a razor blade is adapted to be directly engagedl and slidably supported, an inner guard member movably ,supported upon said shaft and having a tubular portion likewise supported upon and in contact with said shaft whereby said inner guard member may be substantially separated with respect to the outer guard member, and means cooperating with said handle and said tubular portion of the inner guard member for holding the guard members in blade clamping relationship.;

2. A safety razor comprising a substantially cylindrical handle, an outer guard member having a shaft to the end of which said handle is connected and upon which a razor blade is adapted to be directly engaged and slidably supported, an inner guard member movablyr` supported upon said shaft and having a` tubular portion likewise supported upon and in contact with said shaft, whereby said inner guard member may be substantially separatedwith respect tothe outer' guard member with the tubular portion thereof telescoping over the cylindrical handle, and means cooperating with said handle and said tubular portion of the inner guard member for holding the guard membersin blade clamping relationship. 5

. 3. A safety razor of thev double edge blade type comprising an outer guard member, a shaft extending from the said member and provided with radially projecting ribs for a portion of its length and having its outer end threaded, 'an inner guard member having a tubular portion extending from one side thereof, said inner guardy member having an opening complementary to the ribbed portion of said shaft and aligned with the said tubular portion, whereby said inner guard member and tubular portion may be slidably, but non-rotatably supported upon said shaft, a handle secured tothe threaded end of said shaft, said handle having its inner end threaded, and a nut on said threaded end of the handle adapted to engage the adjacent end of said tubular portion to maintain the inner guard member in blade 8K0 clamping relationship with said outer guard member.

' 4.V A safety razor of thev double edge blade type comprising an outer guardy member, a shaft lextending from said member, an inner guard member having a tubular portion extending from one side thereof, said inner guard member and tubular portion being slidably supported upon'saidV shaft, a tubular handle of larger diameter. than said tubular portion arranged over the end of said shaft and secured thereto, said tubular p0rtion of the inner guard member being adapted to telescope within said handle when the guard members areseparated, and means on said tubular portion for engaging the adjacent end-of said tubular handle to maintain the inner guard member in blade clamping relationship with said outer guard members.

5. A safety razor comprising anV outer guard member having `a shaft extending therefrom, an inner guard member having a tubular portion extending therefrom of less length than saidV shaft, said inner guard member andtubular portion thereof being slidably supported upon Said shaft, a handle secured to the end of said shaft with its inner end adjacent to the end of said tubular yportion when the inner guard member is in clamping relationship with respect to the outer guard member, said handle and said tubular portion being telescopically intertting, and means for maintaining said guard members in clampingrelationship.

6. A safety razor comprising an outer guard member having a shaft extending therefrom, an inner guard member having a tubular portion extending therefrom of less length thanrsa'id shaft,

said inner guard member and tubular portion thereof being slidably supported upon said shaft, a handle secured to the end of said shaft with its inner end adjacent to the outer end of said tubular portion when the inner guard member is in clamping relationship with respect to the outer .guard member, said handle being adapted to of the shaft and a tubular portionV aligning with I said opening and extending rearwardly therefrom and of less length than said shaft, said inner guard member and tubular portion thereof Vbeing slidably supported upon said' shaft, a handle secured to the end of said shaft with its inner end adjacent to the outer end of said tubular portion when the guard members are in clamping relationship, said tubular portion and said handle being telescopically intertting, and means for maintaining said guard members in clamping relationship.

' EARL B. HOFF. 

